The Plustek OpticFilm 8200i is not only powerful but has a 7200 dpi resolution.

This means faster scanning and clearer images all of the way around. It has a sharp optical system that is capable of producing exquisite detail in shadow areas. It also gives out an impressive tone and color range.

We particularly like the built-in infrared channel which helps users to remove scratches and dust on original negatives and slides without the necessity of additional post-processing.

This feature can save you lots of time in the long run.

It includes an IT 8 calibration slide assisting in the delivery of clear and accurate colors with plenty of in-depth detailing.

Now for the negatives, and we don’t mean photo negatives. One of the main drawbacks of this scanner is the ordeal you might possibly be put through as you try to install its software and drives.

The instructions simply aren’t good and the entire process is very time-consuming.

However, once you get this thing up and running, you’ll find it’s a good medium-range product that comes at a pretty fair price. The resolution is also really impressive considering it’s half the price of many similar options with lower dpi.

Pros

7200 dpi – Great resolution makes detailed photos pop.

Powerful – This scanner is powerful and fast for the price.

Great tone and color range – Enjoy accurate colors and a great tonal range.

Software and drive issues – Software and drives can be frustrating to install, depending on the operating system you have.

Verdict: This is a great mid-tier scanner that gives you powerful scanning and crisp digital photographs for. It works quickly and the IT 8 calibration slide can save you time and energy. That’s a good thing, because you may have to put a lot of energy into getting all of the software installed. Still, it’s a quality scanner that once you get working, can make your life a whole lot easier. This is our top pick overall for the best 35 mm film scanner.

Starting with the statistics, this film scanner features a good 4,000 dpi optical resolution rate with 4.2 density, fast scan speeds of around 38 seconds, 14-bit A/D conversion, 8 or 16-bit output, a fully digital ICE4 advanced suite of innovative image correction technologies, an updated USB interface, and is PC and Mac compatible.

This is a high-performance machine designed by Nikon, leaders in the photography world.

It can give you high quality 35mm slide scanning, easy 35mm film strip scanning, APS film scanning with its optional IX240 film adapter, and prepared slide scanning with the optional medical slide holder.

With this scanner, you’ll get 4,000 dpi optical resolution.

The 3,964-pixel linear CCD image sensor and combined 14-bit A/D input (8-/16-bit output) will give you brilliant and true-to-life image results every time. Nikon has also equipped this scanner with LED illumination technology.

This ensures that accurate colors are given with no warm-up time or heat damage risks. The fast scan times are another bonus, you won’t have to wait around for digital imaging.

This doesn’t account for the fact that you’ll get an image preview in as few as 14 seconds. You can finally restore old slides to their original glory and vibrancy with the ICE4 advanced digital image correction suite of technologies.

Lastly, the software is comprehensive and user-friendly so it isn’t tough to install or operate.

This scanner has two main disadvantages. The first is the fact that it isn’t comprehensive when it comes to black and white slides. You’ll need to configure your own presets. Additionally, this thing isn’t cheap. This is an expensive scanner considering the resolution you get for your money. However it is built to last.

No monochrome presets – This scanner has great color presets but few if any, black white presets.

Expensive – This scanner does not come cheap, especially for 4000 dpi resolution.

Verdict: If you want to restore photos, scan images quickly, or generally have a reliable and premium photo scanning system, this is an awesome option. It’s reliable, user-friendly, and fast. On the downside, for black and white images there’s a bit of a learning curve. Additionally, this best-in-class 35mm film scanner somewhat pricey. This would be an impressive, versatile option, for all sorts of serious photographers and image editors.

If you need to process images, film, negatives, documents, or photographs, this scanner is a good option to consider, but you should really get this film holder made for the Epson V600. It allows you to create extraordinary enlargements from your film strips, creating updated images that are up to 17″ x 22″ at a stunning 6400 x 9600 dpi.

You’ll be able to scan slides, medium format panoramic film strips, and negatives easily and at a reasonable rate.

This scanner also features the DigitalICE restoration and editing software that lets you make everything look almost like new. You can remove tears, scratches, and small water stains from old photographs easily.

You can also scan documents and full-color photos for clear and crisp images.

It features DIGITAL ICE which is a type of creative editing feature that lets you achieve one-touch color restoration and utilizes Arcsoft Photostudio.

Included Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software allows you to convert scanned document text into editable text making this scanner a great option for any office.

Four customizable buttons can instantly copy, scan, create PDFs, or scan to email. With Epson’s exclusive ReadyScan LED technology, you’ll find that productivity can be streamlined to save you time and effort.

The only downside to this scanner is that it doesn’t have a lot in the way of instruction.

You may find yourself needing to watch an online tutorial or two. We should also add that while it has decent scan rates, compared to some of the other higher quality scanners, it’s a bit slow.

That being said, this is a versatile photo and document scanner that creates quality images and comes at a reasonable price.

Pros

Good price – Comes at an affordable price.

Home of office – Would work great for personal or professional use.

Magnifies well – Images can be made as large as 22″ at a 6400 x 9400 dpi rate.

Lots of user features – Editing and correction software and user features abound.

Cons

Slow – This scanner is slower than some similar scanners.

Learning curve – With little in the way of instruction, it takes a bit of time to learn how to use this scanner.

Verdict: If you are looking for a versatile scanner that’s of decent quality and comes at an affordable price, this is one of the better 35mm film scanners you can consier. It also has many useful features that make it an awesome option for an office or home office. On the downside, it takes a bit of getting used to and it also runs a bit slowly.

This scanner would be great for professionals or industry experts who need impressive resolution rates.

With scanning of 35mm negative film strips and transparencies at 10,000 x 10,000 dpi, you’ll find that this scanner truly knows the meaning of enhancement.

Photographers who wish to use old photography methods but find that they must digitally convert their work to keep up with mainstream business tactics will appreciate the clean and clear images that this scanner is capable of producing.

You’ll be able to get enlargements that are up to 48″ x 32″ at 300 dpi as well.

In addition to this, the scanner has a USB 2.0 port for fast data transfer and convenient computer connectivity. It works well with both Windows and Mac and is compatible with all of the latest operating systems.

It offers a dynamic range with over 3.9 A/D converters. Other specs include 16 bits per color outputs, full color or grayscale at 8 or 16 bits per channel, built-in digital noise reduction, magic touch, and automatic color correction.

As far as drawbacks, this scanner can be difficult to find parts for or make repairs to if it breaks.

It isn’t one of the mainstream brands so you’ll end up paying more for replacement pieces. Additionally, the tray alignment is a bit off.

Pros

Fast – This scanner processes images quickly.

Impressive resolution – The high dpi rates are another great feature.

Built-in processing features – Features like digital noise reduction, magic touch, and automatic color correction are very useful.

Cross-platform compatibility – Works with all of the latest Mac and PC systems.

Cons

Hard to fix – Replacement parts and repair specialists can be hard to find with this brand.

Tray issues – The tray alignment could be better.

Verdict: If you need a quality scanner that can produce large and expertly processed images, this is a good option. It’s fast, simple to operate, and works with Mac and PC. On the downside, if it breaks, it may be hard to fix and it does have some tray alignment problems. Other than that, this is a pretty good option for any serious photographer who needs something efficient and reliable.

With digital JPEG conversion, you will be able to digitally convert everything you need and use it any way that you wish. This scanner is very simple to set up and operate.

Image credits: Wolverine

It may just be one of the most user-friendly options out there.

With the push of a button, you can begin scanning and sharing. Crisp 20-megapixel digital images will be processed and ready in seconds.

You also won’t need to install any kind of computer software. This scanner is ready to be used straight out of the box. Just plug it into an AC outlet or any USB port and begin scanning.

All of your images will be saved into the internal memory or directly to an optional SD/SDHC memory card for your convenience.

If you do wish to connect to a computer, that’s not a problem either.

This scanner connects to any Windows PC or Mac so you can offload images on your computer with ease.

Want to show images immediately? This scanner can connect to a television or other digital monitors as well.

No computer software will be required for any of these function which really makes this entire system easy to use.

On the downside, images aren’t the highest-quality so this may not be the ideal scanner for professional photographers using classic methods.

In addition to this, there isn’t much in the way of color correction or editing software included with this scanner.

Pros

Easy to use – This is a great option for users who aren’t all that tech-savvy.

Quick scans – This scanner processes small images quickly.

Share images – Connect to a computer for offloading or to a TV for large-scale viewing.

Monitor included – See images immediately without any software needed.

USB and HDMI – The USB and HDMI connectivity makes this scanner simple and efficient.

Cons

No editing – You won’t be able to edit, enhance, or color correct images without a computer.

Low-quality images – Images aren’t the highest quality.

Verdict: If you want a quick and easy way to scan archived photos or 35mm film, this is a great option. It’s simple to use and operate, fast, and highly efficient. On the other hand, it isn’t exactly a high-end scanner. If you want professional imaging and premium quality scanning, you may want to try something else.

Versatile – Can scan many sizes and types of film such as 35mm, 110, 126, Super 8, and 8mm negatives.

Scans quickly – Allows you to scan in images quickly and easily.

Cons

Small display – This will not display well on large monitors.

Non-professional – Not designed for professional photography.

Verdict: This is a simple and quick little scanner that allows you to look at old film rolls. It can process and give you a preview of images quickly and you can offload them to a computer easily. If you need something for large-scale viewing or professional photography, however, this may not be the best quality. It’s more for home or recreational use.

Low quality – This is an inexpensive scanner that isn’t designed for professional use.

No extras- It has everything you need to do minimal scanning and sharing but does not add anything particularly special.

Verdict: If you want a cheap and simple way to view 35mm film, this is a decent option. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require any installation software. On the other hand, if you need to enhance images, this isn’t your best option. This is simply an inexpensive and easy to use film scanner that has exactly what you need and nothing more.

It really isn’t anything particularly special, but it will save you money. This is the cheapest working 35mm film scanner that we have come across so far.

Though there may be a few less expensive options out there, this is the only one we have found that actually functions decently in this price range.

It does exactly what it claims to do, scans 35mm film and displays images through a tiny LCD screen on the top.

It comes with an adjustable rapid slide feeder that lets you can and digitize film into JPEG images.

It also has a USB 2.0 interface and TV/Video output for viewing. It can be used with Windows operating systems from 7 and up and Mac OS. Really, this is just a simple and easy little scanner that doesn’t require any software and can convert your physical 35mm film to JPEG images with minimal effort.

It’s a great way to save money if you just need to convert film. However, if you want to enlarge or edit images, you’re going to have to find something with better processing.

The dpi resolution rates of this scanner only reach around 1800. That’s enough for many people but if you’re doing professional work, this little guy simply won’t cut it.

Still, if you want to save money and scan your 35mm film, this may work well.

Pros

Cheap – This is the least expensive working scanner that we have found so far.

Scans easily – Scan 35mm film easily and at pretty quick rates.

Converts to JPEG – Automatically converts scans to JPEG images.

Output cables – You can plug this scanner into a television or computer.

Verdict: If you need something cheap and easy that will scan 35mm film, this is a useful little device. If you need anything else, you’re out of luck. It scans, previews, converts, and offloads images. That’s it. Still, for the price, it’s hard to beat.

This would be a great option for amateur photographers or anyone who wants to view their old 35mm film strips.

It is easy to use, simple to set up, scans reasonably fast, and converts everything to a usable digital format. It does a good job of scanning of 110, 126 film slides, negatives + Super 8 Film, and obviously 35mm film rolls and slides.

You don’t need any software to use this scanner either. It’s compatible with most operating systems.

Additionally, this scanner will give decent resolution outputs of 22-megapixels. It includes speed loading adapters and is compatible with memory cards as large as 32GB.

This scanner also has features that let you enhance the brightness and resolution of images on the device itself without having to connect to a computer.

It’s a nice mid-tier option that works better than many of the name brand 35mm film scanners out there. Still, it isn’t one of the most dependable or streamlined options.

This ZONOZ scanner requires quite a bit of fiddling with. You’ll have to adjust images for a while for them to be usable in a large format. This can be frustrating.

Pros

Scans Many Film Formats – Use it to digitally convert 110, 126 film slides, negatives + Super 8 Film, and 35mm film rolls and slides

Mid-tier – This scanner is of medium range quality and comes at a decent price.

Resolution and brightness features – Adjust resolution and brightness from the device.

No software – USe it immediately out of the box.

Share easily – Connects to a computer for image editing and printing or to a television for larger image viewing.

Cons

Needs adjustment – Images may need adjustment before they are usable.

Verdict: If you need to scan film in a few different formats for a fair price, and if you also want a few editing features thrown in, this scanner may be a decent choice. If you want something that processes smoothly and allows you to edit in-depth, move along. This scanner doesn’t do anything particular;y impressive. However, the image resolution isn’t bad, it gets the job done, and it comes at a reasonable price.

Verdict: If you need to scan or share recently digitize 35mm slides on the go, this is definitely your best bet. It is the only scanner that we know of that can run on a rechargeable battery. On the downside, the image quality could be better. It gets the job done well enough, but we would have liked to see a higher resolution rate. Still, we suppose for the size, price, and easy portability, this scanner is a pretty good deal.

Best 35mm film Scanners Buying Guide

Here, we are going to answer questions that a buyer might have when looking for one of these products:

Dedicated scanners VS DSLR adapters, how do they compare?

The image quality of a film scanner is superior to that of a DSLR adapter.
If you don’t already know, A DSLR adaptor can let you get the unique quality of using film with your digital camera and then, will usually allow you to share digitized film images to a computer for editing and printing.

However, in most cases, DSLR adapters simply can’t give you the image quality that a dedicated scanner will be able to.

Film scanner vs enlarger?

Scanning images and processing them digitally is one of the best ways to guarantee the quality of an image with the least amount of effort and time spent. Enlargement works, but it simply isn’t as efficient or as easy.

When enlarging wet prints in a dark room, you must not only have a large amount of dedicated space but also be experienced in the many techniques of film development.

Even then, you may not achieve the image quality that you desire.

Many people enjoy the process of enlarging wet prints in a dark room and we agree that it is a great hobby, but in this day and age, if you wish to engage in professional photography, you will most likely have to keep up with the technological wave and get a digital film scanner of some kind.

Can I scan negatives with my smartphone?

While you can not scan images with a smartphone directly, there is a way.

Final words

So there you have it! These are some of the best products for 35mm film scanning on the market today.

From simple and inexpensive home scanners like the Jumbl 22MP All-in-1 Small LCD Scanner to the premium Nikon CoolScan V LS-50, these are all top ranking scanners that have positive reviews and ratings.

We hope that at least one of them will be what you’re looking for.

What do you think? Are there any scanners missing on our list that we haven’t included? Please feel free to leave your feedback and let us know!

HereON.biz is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, and we get a commission on purchases made through our links.